Method of hydrating lime.



L. T. LEET.

METHOD OF HYDRATING LIME.

APPLIOATIOH FILED AUG. 6, 1907.

2 SHEETS-BEBE! 1.

Patented Apr. 19,1910

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AMI/0 L. T. LEET.

METHOD OF H YDRATING LIME. APPLICATION rum) AUG. 6, 1007.

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

after the hydration is completed.

UNITED STAWENT OFFICE- LYN'N T. LEE'I', 0F READING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOTKI, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THORBURN REID, OF NEW YORK. N. Y.

METHOD OF HYDRATING LIME.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

Application filed August 6, 1907. Serial No. 387,253.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be. it known that I, LYNN T. LEET, residing at Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Hydrating Lime, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in methods of hydrating lime whereby the heat generated by the hydration is utilized to assist in the perfect hydration of the lime and its delivery in a dry state, the tempera ture being maintained and the heat conserved until the hydration is completed.

In hydrating lime in accordance with my invention the moisture is supplied in such form and quantity that the heat developed by the hydration of the lime will be suf ficicnt to maintain as dry steam any uncombined moisture that may be present and will be so conserved as to maintain the pressure of the dry steam. preferably in the neighborhood of 100 lbs. per square inch gage pressure, until the steam is allowed to escape By maintaining the pressure'at this point, the moisture is made to permeate the lime more quickly and completely resulting in a thorough hydration. Moreover the excess moisture will have ,or will assume the form of dry steam thus avoiding the formation of balls or cakes of lime into which it is ditlicult for the moisture to penetrate. Heretofore in hydrators and processes of hydrating lime the great dilliculty has been to thoroughly hydrate the lime and to avoid at the same time the production of a wet and pasty mass at the end of the hydration. If the hydrated lime is wet, itnot only cakes so as to stick to the hydrator and interfere with the use of'the hvdrator in a subsequent operation,-but it is impossible to thoroughly mix the wet hydrated lime with sand or other ingredients with which it is to be subsequently used. For such a thorough mixture the hydrated lime must be in the form of a dry powder.

Lime which is onl partially hydrated may be in theform of a powder and yet be entirely unsuitable for use in making bricks, blocks, plaster and the like, since when such partially hydrated lime is mixed with the proper ingredients and molded into form,

and moisture added to the mixture in theform of water or steam, some or all of the unhydrated lime n'esent will be hydrated, will swell and will disintegrate or crack the product, thus making it imperfect and unsatisfactory and practically uncommercial. The proper hydration of the limois, therefore, very important, and in fact is an absolutely essential requirement for the manufacture of satisfactory sand-lime bricks and the like.

By my invention perfectly hydrated lime in a dry and powder-like form can be ob tained and thus the difficulties above referred to be avoided.

One important feature is the use of a heat insulating covering for the hydrating cylinder whereby heat within the cylinder may be conserved. Heretofore the importance of conserving the heat within the cylinder has not been recognized, but I have found that unless it is done, it. is practically impossible to secure satisfactory results, since complete hydration of large quantities of lime requires several hours, and the excess moisture at the end of that time must be in the form of dry steam so that it can be discharged. If the steam is allowed to condense before the vent is opened the hydrated lime will not be dry. The moisture may be supplied in various ways such as in the form of water or stean'i, or partly water and partly steam, but I prefer to supply it in the form of water where conditions permit, since in this way a plant for separately generating heat is avoided. When the moisture is supplied inthe form of Water the heat required to convert the excess into superheated steam is all supplied by the hydration. When the properties or qualities of the lime or the resence of impurities retard the process 0 hydration or reduce the amount of heat developed to such an extent that when moisture is introduced in the form of cold water, suflicient heat is not developed with such rapidity as to convert the excess of moisture prescut into dry steam, the deficiency of heat may be supplied by warming the water or converting some or all of it into steam before introducing it into the hydrator. This allows of the introduction of a lar er amount of excess moisture than would e feasible if cold, water alone were used. Thus is avoided the-dilficulty and expense of accurate measurement of the amount of moisture and lime introduced and 1t becomes posslble to introduce suflicient moisture to insure perfect hydration of all the lime that may be present in an charge and yet avoid the danger of con ensed moisture being present at the end of the hydration period with a charge of lime requiring a less amount of moisture by reason of an .excess of impurities or deficient weight. When the moisture is supplied in the form partly of steam and partly of water, the most advantageous time to begin to supply the steam will depend on the way in which the lime hydrates,

ifferent samples of lime varying widely m the rate at which they hydrate at different parts of the hydration period and the proportions of steam and water to be used and the best time to introduce the steam should be determined by trial with samples of the lime to be hydrated. When the moisture is supplied partly in the form of steam, the last part of the moisture is preferablymftroduced in that form. In whatever form the moisture issupplied great care must be taken to conserve the heat within the vessel until the hydration cylinder is vented so as to prevent any condensation therein of mols- 'ture in excess of that taken up in the hy- Fig. 2 shows a vertical cross section of the same.

' Referring more particularly to the drawings, A is a closed metallic cylinder or vessel in which the hydration takes place.

A is a cover closing a manhole in the side of the cylinder. The cylinder is provided with circular projections .BB which are supported by anti-friction wheels CC. Gears 'D-D are carried at each end ofthe cylinder, and the cylinder is revolved by wer applied thereto through pinions LD. An inlet pipe E provided with sprinkler openings E and an outlet pipe E pass respectively through the cylinder heads for supplying moisture to the inside of the hydrator and permitting the escape of steam. A tank F 'is connected to this inlet pi e, the same being provided with a gage G or determining the level of the water therein. A steam connection F is also provided for supplying steam through the inlet pipe,

F is a nozzle for measuring the amount of steam admitted. I,

F is a pressure gage on the boiler side y of the nozzle and F is a stop cock for controlling the supply of steam.

F 5 is a stop cock in a drain pipe. 7 F 6 is a check valve. A stop cock H is interposed between the tank and the pipe so that the supply of water to the hydrator can be cut ofl when the gage shows that the desired amount has been introduced. This stop cock also serves to regulate the supply of water to the hydrator so as to maintain V a proper pressure within the cylinder. Suitable means such as a um I is interposed between the tank and the hydrator for forcing 'the water into the hydrator against pressure in the hydrator during the hydration process.

In order to conserve the heat introduced with the-moisture as well as that generated within the hydrator by the hydration of the lime, a heavy covering of insulating material J is provided to prevent the loss of this heat. This covering of insulating material should be thick enough to prevent any substantial or material loss of heat for a period of two or three hours, that being the time which in some instances necessarily elapses before complete hydration of lime takes plae. In order to assist in the hydration I provide pebbles or metal balls K within the hydrator which serve to grind up the lime thus exposing all portions of it more rapidly to the moisture within the hydrator, and reducing to a fine powder any impurities that may be present or any portions of the lime not reduced to powder by the hydration process itself.

L is a cock for controlling the escape of steam after hydration is completed. The usual safety valve and a pressure gage N showing the pressure within the cylinder, are connected to the pipe E between the cylinder and the valve L. i

In carrying out my process with the above described apparatus, I first introduce into the cylinder A a suitable weighed or measured quantity of unslaked lime, the quality of the lime and the time and the amount of water which theoretically would be necessary to'prod'uce complete hydration of the entire amount within the hydrator having been ascertained. After the manhole is closed by the cover A, I start the hydrator in motion and let in an amount of water from the tank corresponding to an amount equal ,to about 10 or 20 per cent. more than the amount computed to be necessary for the complete hydration, the rule being that" form of dry superheated steam. This water I I let in at a rate corresponding to the quality et the of the lime, itbeing-necessary to water in more slowly with a slowly hydrating lime than with a rapidly hydrating lime. With a rapidly hydrating lime, however, it is necessary not to let the water in so rapidly as to cause the pressure within the hydrator to rise unduly.- I prefer that the pressure should be maintained as nearly as possible at 100 lbs. If the pressure is permitted to rise unduly, it will either result I in bursting the cylinder of the hydrator or will result in forcing off some of the moisture through the safety valve. When moisture is forced ofl through the safety valve it not only results in the loss of heat, but it is impossibletotell how muchmoisture has escaped, and it might be that suflicient moisture has escaped so'thatthe remaining moisture will not completel hydrate the lime. The safety valve, there ore, is present only for protection in the case of emergency and should never be called into use in the normal use of the apparatus. In an apparatus for hydrating a charge of 8000- pounds the charge should preferably fill one-third of according to the quality of the lime.

the cylinder and the time required to let the Water. in under ordinary circumstances varies from one to one and one-half hours, The hydrator is kept in motion for a considerable period even after the water has been thus admitted until the lime is completely hydrated, this second period usually varying from one to one and one-half hours, making two or three hours for the whole OPBI'tLtlOIL Durin all this time by reason of conservation 0 heat the steam pressure due to the hydration isinaintained substantially constant within the hydrator and this steam forces the moisture to permeate the mass completely, large lumps being broken up by the balls so as to facilitate hydration,

the balls also serving to pulverize any impurities or hydrated portions not reduced to a powder by the hydration itself. In this wa complete hydration takes place within t e shortest possible time.

At the end of the period of hydration the pressure should be substantiall mum above referred to. At this oint and before the hydrator has cooled o and the pressure been substantially reduced, the superheated steam within the hydrator should be permitted to escape as rapidly as possible without carrying an excessive amount of the lime with it. When thesteam has all escaped it will be found that the lime withln the hydrator will be perfectly hydrated and yet be perfectly dry and in con-.

the maxisuperheated steam, and pr except as it is converte into steam, should be absorbed chemically as fast as it is introduced.

It has heretofore been suggested that lime can be properly hydrated in a closed chamher by introducing exactly the amount of water necessary to produce complete hydration and preventing the escape of steam duning the hydration process. While thisl'night theoretically produce dry and completely hydrated lime, it is open to the objection that it is impossible todetermine accurately the amount of water which will be necessary to completely hydrate a large amount of commercial lime, since a slight error in the test would result in the use of improper proportions. Different samples of lime even when taken from the same quarry or the same kiln vary widely in their requirements and it is difficult, if not impossible, in practical commercial work at least, to weigh or measure the lime and moisture with sufiicient accuracy to avoid having at any time an excess of moisture resulting in wet lime or an excess of lime resulting in incomplete hydration. Moreover, unless the moisture is introduced in the proper proportions of water and steam and at the proper rate, the pressure is liable to rise so high as to cause loss of steam through the safety valve with the result that the moisture remaining in the hydrator is insufficient for perfect bydrationl It is, therefore, of great advantage to use an excess of water during the hydration process and to get rid of thatexcess at serving the heat in the hydrator until the steam is blown off after the hydration is completed besides facilitating the hydration process has also another great advantage in that it allows of the introduction of a much larger excess of moisture without risk of wet 1 lime being delivered than would be possible at a very low steam pressure. The higher the pressure of the steam the higher its temperature and the higher, therefore, will be the temperature of the hydrator itself and of the lime it contains. If there is any water or condensed steam present, this will also be at the temperature of the steam. When then the steam is blown off at the end of the hydration process, the pressure is lowered, the heat in the vessel, however, being onlyslightly reduced, since the greater part of it remains in the lime, the waterand the vessel itself. All the heat in the vessel -which is between the'tem erature of steam at atmospheric pressure 212 Fahr.) and at 100 lbs. pressure (388 Fahr.) is available then. to convert into steam any water eferably the water, 65

that may be present. The limiting pressure of 100 lbs. is adopted in practice on account of the great increase in-cost of the hydration cylinder that would result from the use of hi her pressures.

at I claim is: 1. The process of hydrating lime which consists in subjecting a quantity of lime in a 2. The process of hydrating lime which consists in subjecting a quantity of lime in a closed vessel to slowly admitted moisture slightly in excess of that required for complete hydration of the lime, conserving the 'heat within the Vessel so that the excess of moisture will be kept in the form of superheated steam under' high'pressure until all the lime is hydrated and then dischar g the steam while still superheated, the e beingl kept in commotion during the period in w ich hydration is going on. y

3. The process'of hydrating lime which consists in subjecting a quantity of lime in a closed vessel to slowly admitted moisture.

slightly in excess of that required for comlete hydration of the lime, conserving the heat within the vessel so that the excess of moisture will be kept in the form of super- 1 heated steam under high pressure unti all the lime is hydrated and then discharging the steam while. still superheated, the lime.

being subjected to a grinding action during the period in which hydration is going on.

4. The process of hydrating lime which consists in subjecting a quantlty of lime in a closed vessel to slowly slightly in excess of that required for com lete hydration of .the lime, conserving the eat within the vessel so that the excess of admitted moisture.

moisture will be 'kept in the form of superheated steam under high the steam while still superheated, the lime being subjected to the ding action of bodies of greater durabillty while hydration is going on.

pressure until all the lime is hydrated and'then discharging i 5; The process of hydrating lime which consists in subjecting a quantity of lime in a closed vessel to slowly admitted water slightly in excess of that required for comlete hydration of the lime, conserving with- 1n the vessel the heat generated by hydration,

and thereb maintaining theexcess water 1n the form 0 superheated steam until the lime is completely hydrated and then discharging the steam while still superheated.

6. The process of hydrating lime which consists in subjecting a quantity of lime in a closed vessel to a definite amount of moisture slightly in excess of that required for complete hydration and admitted at such a rate vas to maintain within the vessel when the heat is conserved superheated steam at an approximately constant high pressure until the lime is completely hydrated, conservinglthe heat during the hydration period, en hydration 1s completed dischargand w ing the freemoisture in the form of steam while still superheated.

7. The process of hydrating lime which consists in subjecting a quantity of lime in a closed vessel to an amount of moisture slightly in excess of that required for hydration of the lime, said moisture being ad mitted at such 'a rate as to maintain withm the vessel, when the heat is conserved, su-- perheated steam at an approximately con-' stant high pressure, preventing the-substantial escape of moisture during the hydration I period and then discharging the steam while still superheated. v

LYNN T. LEET. Witnesses:

O. S. DE Tuxcx, Enm W. DECK.- 

